Fracturing earth formation



May 3, 1960 T. o. ALLEN E L 2,935,129

FRACTURING EARTH FORMATION Filed April 5, 1957 PACKER IO PACKER IO EM U LSION 3O EMUL+SION 24 PUMP U FIG. 2.

FIG. I.

IN VEN TORS.

n S m o 6 5 GM mm e TG V: B

.0 to about .5 feet per minute.

United States Patent ice FRACTURING EARTH FORMATION Thomas 0. Allen, Bellaire, and Gerald G. Priest, Houston,

Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application April 5, 1957, Serial No. 650,957 1 Claim. (CL 166-42) The present invention is directed to a method for fracturing subsurface earth formations. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method for increasing the permeability of a subsurface earth formation, containing valuable fluids, which is penetrated by a well. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with increasing the permeability of a subsurface earth formation without affecting adversely the formation matrix permeability.

In fracturing formations it has been customary to employ a fracturing fluid which may be a gelled crude oil, an emulsified crude oil or a fluid such as acid gel and the like, to which has been added a solid propping agent, I In employing these fracturing fluids which such as sand. may contain wetting agents and the like, it has been customary to impose on the fracturing fluid a sufficient pressure in excess of the breakdown pressure of the formation to cause cracks or fractures in the formation and thus increase the permeability thereof.

An undesirable aspect of the conventional fracturing operations has been the loss in permeability suffered by the formation matrix as a result of contactwith the fracturing fluid. For example, while the permeability of the formation is increased by the production of or opening up of fractures in the formation which, in effect, is opening up channels through which drainage may take place, the fracturing fluid in contacting the formation ordinarily reduces the permeability of the formation of rock matrix. Thus, while a channel may be opened up, the permeability of the matrix adjace'ntthe channel will be damaged so that oil and/or gas will be hindered from draining into the channel to the extent that the ultimate recovery of oil and/ or gas after initial increase of produc-,

tion will be substantially impaired. Thus, the fracturing fluid results in plugging of the matrix of-the'rock or for- I mation which adversely affects permeability and also ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons, such as oil, gas, and

thelike.

In the present invention, fracturing of formations is obtained to increase the permeability thereof without, affecting adversely the formation matrix permeability. This is accomplished in the present invention by locating adjacent a formation and in contact therewith an emulsion of water and oil and then imposing suflicient pres sure on the emulsion for a sufiicientjlengthpfjto; fracture the formation. 7 Thereafter, the well isproduced}. to remove the emulsion and obtain the valuable fluids in the formation, such as oil, gas, and the like. In the practice of the present invention, the emulsion employed is one containing oil and water with the water containing a water-soluble inorganic compound which serves to procharacterized by being free from compounds which have an appreciable adverse effect on the formation matrix permeability.

The emulsion is further 2,935,129 Patented May 3, 1960 Compounds which affect adversely the formation matrix permeability are compounds such as fatty acid soaps, asphaltic materials, insoluble solids formed in situ, and the numerous well stimulating compounds which have come into recent common use in the art. It has been discovered that compounds of this nature adversely affect the formation matrix permeability and damage the fractured formation to such an extent that the beneficial effects of the fracturing operation are substantially negatived.

The emulsion employed in the practice of the present invention is used in the sense of the emulsions described in Sutheimns Introduction of Emulsions, Chemical Publishing Company, Inc., Brooklyn, New York, 1947, page 1 where an emulsion is described as follows:

Emulsions are intimate mixtures of two immiscible liquids, one of them being dispersed in the other in the form of fine droplets.

The emulsions of the present invention contain a water soluble inorganic compound or salt. These compounds serve to control and mitigate, alleviate and entirely eliminate damage to the formation by loss of permeability.

The oily phase of the emulsion may suitably be a hydrocarbon, such as asphalt-free crude petroleum and fractions thereof, such as gasoline, kerosene, gas oil, diesel oil, and the like. Other hydrocarbonaceous materials or derivatives of hydrocarbons, such as carbon tetrachloride, and the like, may form all or part of the oily phase.

The emulsion suitably may have a density in pounds per gallon inthe range from about 7 to about 18 pounds per gallon. The viscosity of the emulsion may range from about 10 toabout 4000 centipoises at 60 F. g

The water-soluble compound which may suitably be a water-soluble inorganic metal salt may be termed as formation damage control agents and suitably may include the alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and other inorganic compounds. Typical suitable watersoluble inorganic compounds suitable for use in the practice of the present invention are shown in Table I:

TABLE I Name: a Formula Aluminum bromide AlBr Aluminum chloride AlCl Aluminum iodide A11 Ammonium bromide NH Br Ammoniumiiodide NH I Ammonium nitrate NH NO Ammonium phosphate, dibasic (NI-I HPO Antimony trichlori'cle SbCl Antimony trifluoride SbF Barium acetate Ba(C H O- Bariumbromideu l Balk"; Barium iodide dihydrate Bal .2H O Barium iodide hexahydrate BaI .6H O jBarium nitrite Ba(NO Cadmiumacetate Cd(C H O Cadmium bromate monohydrate- Cd(BrO .I-I O we Cadmium bromide CdBr Cadmium chlorate Cd(CIO Cadmium chloride CdCl Cadmium i i CdI Cadmium nitrate t e trahydrate Cd(NO .4H O Cadmium sulfate hept'ahydrate" CdSO .7H O Cadmium bromate monohydrate- Cd(BrO .2H O Calcium bromide CaBr Calcium chloride CaCl Calcium iodide Cal Calcium nitrate; Ca(NO Cupric bromate hexahydrate Cu(BrO .6H O Cupric bromide; CuBr Cupric chloride- CuCl 3 p The emulsion employed in the present invention will Cupric nitrate hexahydrate Cu(NO .6H suitably consist essentially of from about to about Ferric chloride FeC1 95% by volume of water with a preferred range of from Ferric nitrate hexahydrate Fe(NO .6H O about 20% to about 80% by volume of water, from Ferric sulfate monohydrate Fe (SO .9H O 5 about 5% to about 95% by volume of oil with a pre- Ferrous bromide FeBrg ferred range of from about 20% to about 80% by vol- Ferrous chloride FeClz I ume of oil and an emulsifying agent in an amount in the Lead acetate trihydrate P 2 3 2)2- z range from about 0.5 to about 20 grams per 100 ml. of .Lead chlorate monohydrate Pb(ClO .H O the external phase of the emulsion. The weight per- -Lead nitrate (N 3)z cent of the inorganic metal compound or salt dissolved Lithium bromide H 1 in the aqueous or water phase of the emulsion may suit- Lithium iodide l ably range from about 1% up to about saturation in the Magnesium bromide MgBr aqueous or water phase of the emulsion. Magnesium iodide g z The solid propping agent employed in the emulsion will .Manganese bromide 'z suitably range from about {/2 lb./gal. to about 6 lb./ gal. Manganese ohloridetctrahydr 2 H2 of the emulsion and may include sand, quartz, crushed Manganese iodide M1112 walnut shells, and other coarse or fine aggregate having Nickel bromide NiBr particle sizes in the range from about 10 to about 140 Nickel nitrat h a yd a s)2- 2 mesh. The purpose of the solid propping agent is to Potassium acetate K z a z be carried intothe fractures formed in the formation and Potassium fluoride K lodged therein to prop the channels or fractures in an open Potassium iodide KI condition after the emulsion has been removed there- Potassium nitrite KNO f 7 Potassium phosphate K rt); "The emulsions employed in the practice of the present Sodium bisulfate Nell-I304 invention may include suitable fatty acid soap-free Sodium bromide NaBr emulsifying agents such as alkali or alkaline earth metal Sodium chlorate 0:; salts of lignosulfonic acid, esters of fatty acids, esters of Sodium chloride NaCl mixed fatty and resin acids, and the like. In Table II the Sodium iodide Nal identity and compositions of emulsifying agents suitable Sodium nitrate NaNOg for use in the present invention are presented. Sodium nitrite N 'z The emulsion or fracturing fluid employed in the pres- Sodium phosphate monobasic NaH PG4- Z ent'invention may be either an oil-in-water emulsion or a Zinc bromide nBrg water-in-oil emulsion. Stating this otherwise, water may Zinc chloride 211012 be either the internal or external phase of the emulsion. Zinc Iodide ZIlIz p When an oil-in-water emulsion is employed as the frac- Zinc nitrate hexahy r 3)z- 2O turing fluid, it may suitably contain a film strengthening Zinc sulfate ZnSOr agent of the type illustrated in Table III.

TABLE 11 Trade Designation Chemical Composition Class 2f Manufacturer gen Sorbitan monooleate Non-ionic--. Atlas Powder Co. Sorbitan sesqninlnqfp do Do. Unpurified sorbitan monooleate D0. Polyoxyethylene esters of mixed fatty and D0.

resin acids. Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate- Do. Polyoxyethylene lauryl alcohol D0. Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate- Do. Sodium lignosulfonate Marathon Corp. Polyoxyethylene sorbitol tetraoleate... Atlas Powder Co. Polyoxyethylene sorbitol monolaurate. d Do. Sorbitan monolaurate d Do. Kembreak Calcium lignosulionate Anionic Marathon Corp.

TABLE III Trade Designation Chemical Composition 7 Manufacturer Filcon SPF 1 A sulionated polymer Monsanto Chemical Company. Driscose 2 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose Hercules Powder Company. -H CMC dofi- 70-SH 0M0--- -do. Do. 70DH OMC do." Do. 120-11 CMC rln o a Do. Impermex Pregelantized starch Bai-oid Sales Div. of Nat'l Lead Co. Guar Flour Milled endosperm of guar secds General Mills, Inc. Saltkem Sodium li nn ulfrm Marathon Corporation. XHi Vis. CMC Sodium carboxy'methyl cellulose Dow Chemical Co; Lustrex Wm. Sulfonated polystyrene B Monsanto Chemical Company.

1 Filcon is a registered trade name of Monsanto Chemical 00., the manufacturer.

1 Average of 0.7 sodium carboxymethyl group per anhydroglucose unit, medium vis 2% solution at 25 C., -300 cp.

3 Average of 0.7 sodium carb solution at 25 0., 1300-2200 cp.

4 Average of 0.7 sodium carboxymet of 1% solution at 25 C., 1300-2200 cp.

5 Average of 0.7 sodium carboxymethyl group'per anhydroglucose unit, densified form of CMC-70 H.

6 Average of 0.7 sodium carbox solution at 25 0., 100-300 op.

1 A supplier.

l Average of about 0'.8 to 0.4 sodium carboxymethyl' group per anhydrogl ucose unin'oxtra hi Lustrex W 15 registered trade name of Monsanto Chemical Company, the manufacturer.

oxymethyl' group per anhydroglucose unit, high viscosity form, viscosity oi 1% yl group per anhydroglucose unit, special high viscosity form, viscosity ymethyl group per anhydroglucose unit, high viscosity form, viscosity of 1% cosity form, viscosity of gh viscosity form.

"*"Iheinvention will be furthe r illustratedby reference jtothe drawing in whichi 1 7 Fig. 1 illustrates apparatus suitable for practicing the present invention in an open hole; and V Fig. Zillustrates a well where fracturing is accomplished through perforations in a welllcasing.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, a borehole, such as 11, is drilled from the earths surface 12'to penetrate a plurality of subsurface earth for mations' 13, 14, and 15, any of which may be productive ofvaluable earth fluids such as oil, gas, and the like. In' the practice of the present invention it may be assumed that formation, sand, interval, stratum, horizon --or Zone 14 is productive of hydrocarbons;

-A casing, such as 16, is set in the well 11 such that its {lower end is arranged above the formation 14, the casing being cementedjin place withprimary cement 18. A tubing string, such as 19, is set in the well with its lower o en 'end 20 above the formation 14 and the casing-tubing annulus A has been closed off adjacent the lower open "end of the tubing string 19 by means of a tubing packer "such as 10, a description of which may be, found in the Composite Catalog of Oil'Field and Pipeline Equipment, 20th edition, 1954-55, at page 875. The well 11 and the easing 16 and tubing 19 are closed in atthe earths surface by well head equipment generally indicated by numeral 21, the tubing being provided with a valve 22 its lower open end 20 abovethe uppermost of the formations 13 with the annulus A being closed in by means of the packer 10, such as has been described. It is understood, of course, that the packer 10 may be omitted and when such is done the fracturing fluid will be pumped from line 26 down the annulus A.

In this particular instance the casing 40 has been penetrated or perforated by means of a gun, such as a bullet or shaped charge or a mechanical or chemical type perforator lowered through the tubing string 19 and placed adjacent the formation 14 and then operated or fired to has pressure imposed on it by means of pump 25, conduit 23, and tubing string 19 to cause the formation of the channels or fractures 31 and the lateral channels or fractures 32. i V I Thus, in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, .the formation 14 is fractured by perforating the casing and then imposing pressure with the emulnent well completion technique, that is, the tubing 19 forming part of the usual Christmas tree arrangement and being provided with a conduit 23 containing a valve -24 which connects into a pump 25. The pump 25 connects byline 26 to a source of 'the emulsion employed in' the present invention. 7 V,

In practicing the present invention in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 1, the formation may be isolated from the other formations by means such as shown inwhich the casing is cemented in place. Emulsion is -then pumpedinto the well below the casing and tubing :;by lines .26, pump 25 and line 23 and thence by way of tubing string 19. The packer 21 may be opened to allow displacement up the annulus A and outwardly there: from through a conduit, such as 28, controlled by avalve such as 29. After the emulsion has been arranged irij a body, such as 30, pressure-is built up on the -body-of emulsion 30 until: it exceeds the brfefakdownffpiessuiflof 'the formation 14 which results in the formationof-one tor more fractures or channels, such'as 31; communicating j therewith may be a plurality of lateral or vertical-chan 'nels or fractures 32. These channels or fractures, fsuchf'as 14 and to extend the fractures the distancejiridicafd.

j For example, in'fracturinga formation intheTexas fields, the pressure imposed thereon may 'rafi 'effibm about 500m about 15,000 pounds per square inch gauge and the time the pressureisimposedmay rangefrom. 0.1 i to about'2 hours. -As a result of'this treatment particularemulsionas described h' reimthe channel, such as 31, with the lateral channels, such as 32;'are formed and propped open with {resend 'orsolid propping agent I carried by the emulsion inj he present inventiom As a 'i'esult of employing the particular emulsion the rock matrix adjacent the fractures in the formation such as 14, is not adversely affected to an appreciable degree in that the permeability is not impaired by contactwith the fracturing fluid. -Thus thefracturing fluid-has a low fluid loss or filtration rate,'has theability to retain the sand or propping agent and is characterizedby not conitaining compounds which adversely affect, to' a considerable degree, the formatiomsuch as 14.

from the earth's surface,such as 12, has a casing 40, ar-

ranged therein whichfextends throughout the d'eptho'f 9 TABLE IV Results of fracturing fluid formation damage tests grouped by types of fluids W 1 a Core Perme- Permew Type Fracturing Fluids Tested Test ability, md. ability,

- Including Base 011s Used Temp., Recovered F. at Given Pressure, Before After Percent Gelled Orudes: Hallibnrtou Visofrac- Means-San Andres.-- 100 51 6. 5 13 Pampu-Wolfcamp r '88 11. 0 13 Jay Simmons-Frio-- 180 89 1.0 1 Raven Creek-Canyon & Strawn 146 55 3. 0 5 9 East Bartlett-Swastika. 113 "65 13.0 20 Dowell Petrogel- 7 Means-San Andres... 71 5.0 7 Raccoon Bend-Sparta 180 64 29.0 54 Pampa-Wolfcamp... r 85 '68 1. 0 1 Fargo-Canyon 51 30.0 59 East Bartlett-Swastika. 113 57 17.0" 30 Western Control-Frac Means-San Andres 100 56 16.0 29 Pampa-Wolfcampfl 85 65 "1.0 2 Jay Simmons-Erie" 180 -88 15.0 17 H Foster-Grayburgdzsan Andres"; 100 77 7.0 9 -Emu1sitied0rudes: .1 --Hall1burton Emulsifrac Jay Simmons-Frio 180 107 61.0 57 Jay Simmons-Fido 180 77 41.0 A 53 Means-Queen";- 92 "80 47.0 59 v p Kelsey-Friotzones K V v K M; 71 38.0 54 a Kelsey-Fr1o(Zone21).. 71 35.0 49 EaStT8X8.S-WO0dbi!1B 146 -65 18.0 27 -Dowell Petrofrac 1 Jay Simmons-Frio. e 180 89 -8.'0 9 r Kelsey-Eric (Zones K Raven. Creek-Canyon trawn r 146 -65 10.0 15 Kelsey-Frio (Zone 21)-. 180 63 11.0 17 East Texas-Woodbine" 146 -59 12.0 20

Refem'ngnow to Fig. 2, a well bore, such as 11, drilled a e To illustrate the nature of the detrimental eifectof the conventional fracturing fluids on formations, operations were conducted toshow the effect-of the formation dammary cement 41. The tubing string 19 is arranged with 7 age resulting from the use of conventional fracturing 77 fluids. In'performing these operations, a Berea sandstone .core 3 /2 inches in diameter and inches long is condtioned to specific, salt water and kerosene saturations approximating connate water and original oil saturations out following a well-treatment After making certain that the flow rate through the .core is no longer increasing, the permeability of the core to filtered evacuated kerosene is measured at 1,800 p.s.i.g. inlet pressure and 33- NaOl (5) 34- NaCl (5) 35-.. N201 (5) 36. NaCl (26) 37. NaOl (26) 38 OaGla (3)- 39 CaClz (I $4 aOl .45 NaCl (26L..- 46 3 NaCl (26) d which exist' in reservoirs. The prepared core is then 5 100 p.s.i.g. difierential pressure for comparison with the mounted in a high pressure core holder and its permeearlier measurement. The results of these operations abilityto .filtered evacuated kerosene is measured at 1nare presented in Table IV. let and outlet pressures of 1,300 and 1,700 p.s.i.g., respec- [From these operations it will be clear that the employtively. In the case of thegelled or emulsified crude tests, ment of the commercially offered gelled crudes and the base crude is'filtered; then the gel or emulsion is preemulsified crudes results in a substantial loss in the pared. The. fracturing fluid thus prepared is injected permeability recovered at a given pressure. [For example, into the core, at the, temperature of the reservoir from when using conventional gelled crudes, it will be seen which thecrude was produced, at a constant inlet presthat the permeability after the treatment ranged from 1 sure of 1,800 p.s.ilg. but with varying pressure dilr'erento 59% of the permeability before the treatment. With tials across the .core. The pressure differential is maln- '15 the conventional'emulsified crudes, the percentage of the tained at 100 psi. for 10 minutes, 200 p.s.i. for 10 permeability resulting after such a treatment ranged minutes, 300 p'.s.i. for '10 minutes, 400 p.s.i. for 10 rninfrom 9% to 59% of that obtained prior to the treatment. utes, and 500 p.s.i. for the last 10 minutes. The core In short, these data show that substantialloss in permeis then back flowed with' filtered evacuated kerosene at ability has been etfected by treatment with conventional -1-,800 p.s.i.g. inlet pressure'while maintaining pressure diffracturing fluids.

ferentials acrossthe core at 1 p.s.i. for 2 hours, 10 p.s.i. In order to illustrate the present invention and the benefor 2 hours, and '100 p.s.i. for at least 4'hours, or until ficial results therefrom, a number-of compositionsin ac- .the rate of flow ceases to increase. This backfiow phaseis cordance with the present invention were made up condesigned to simulate the initiation of production follow- .taining the formation damage control compounds. The .ing a fracturing job and to remove plugging materials composition and the characteristics of these emulsions depositedbythe fracturing fluid which might be flushed are presented in Table V.

V TABLE V 1 The composition and properties of several emulsion fracturing fluids Aqueous Phase 011 Phase Emulslfler Properties of Emulsion External Sample Phase V01.

Number of the per- 1 Grams/ API Emulcent Film Strength- Weighting Vol. 100 m1. Density Fluid S1011 enlng Agent Agent, Wt. Identity per- Identity External LbSJ Gal. Loss, percent cent Phase eta/ M 1 80 70 DH OMO NaOl(26). Diesel 011 20 5.0 0.2 2 so Filcon (SPF) d 20 1.0 9.3 3.0 a so (I 20 5.0 9.3 0.0 4 75 25 5.0 9.1 0.0 5 75 25 4.0 9.1 0.5 0 20 5.0 8.2 1.0 7 20 5.0 9.3 2.4 s 20 0.2 9.3 0.0 9.- 2a 8.0 9.1 2.2 10- 4.0 8.5 0.2 11- 4.0 8.8 8.4 12- 00 5.0 I 8.3 5.8 13.-- '05 6.8 7.8 5.8 14 07 10.7 7.7 2.0 15.-- 10.0 7.0 4.0 10 25 Spa1180 10 10.0 8.0 I7 L. 26 AflacelC" 10 10.0 1.0 18 25 Atpet100 10 10.0 1.0 35 Span 12. 9.9 1.0 20 40 0 12. 9.7 1.8 21 25 Arlacel"0".. 10. 9.2 8.6 22--- 25 Saltkem 0. 8.0 5.0 23-.- 38 d0. 10. 7.7 .2.0 24 38 ..d0. 2. 7.7 11.0 .25"- 03,012 do 38 do 0. 7.7 27.0 26 00.81103) Sparta Crude, Ra- 38 do 0. 7.7 29.0

' coon Bend. 27 05012 (3) 0. 7.7 7.0 28... 02012 (3).-- 10. 7.5 2.0 29... each (3).-- 10. 7.3 2.0- 30 00012 (3 12. 7.3 2.0 31. 02012 (3) 10. 7. 3 0. 2 7.7 2.0

' In these runs 70 DH 0M0 was used in amounts of 2 grams/ ml.

9 In these runs Fllcon (SPF) vwas used in amounts of 1.25, 1.67, 5.0, 6.7, 6.7, 6.7, 6.7, 6.7 and 6.7 grams/100 ml.', respectively.- B In these runs Lustrex-W was used in amounts of 1.0, 1.0,05, 0.5, 1.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.07, and 0.8 grams/100 ml., respectively.

4 1mm each of Tween 60 and Saltkem used.

Typical of these emulsions were employed in operations similar to those described with respect to the runs from which the data represented in Table IV were obtained. The identity of the emulsions which are set out in Table V are referred to in Table VI wherein the properties of the emulsions employed in the formation testing operations are further defined with respect to the sand falling rate.

TABLE VI Data on several emulsions tested as fracturing fluids under simulated well conditions Emulsion Sample No. 40 41 26 32 Emulsion Properties:

API Fluid Loss, cc./ min 11. 2 11.8 27. 0 29.0 29.0 Density, lbs/gal 8. 6 8. 2 7. 7 7. 7 7. 7 Sand Falling Rate, it./mm- 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 Initial Core Permeability, 1nd 48 48 92 72 53% Maximum Injection Pressure Differential, lbs./ in. 500 500 500 500 an} Cumulative Volume of Fluid Lost at Given 8Q Pressure, cc 240 425 216 170 144 i Average Fluid Loss Index, cc (1 5.0 8. 85 2. 4 2. 4 2. 7 3 Back Flow Pressure, lbs./i n. 100 100 100 100 100 Baekflow Permeability at Given Pressure, md 32 80 56 44 Total Volume Backflowed Through Core, cc 13, 850 lo, 850 26, 300 23, 000 20, 000 l Permeability Recovery at Given Pressure, Percent 73 61 87. 0 78. 0

Expresses ratio of total fluid loss to initialpermeability. b Corresponds to emulsion sample number m Table V.

From the results presented in Table VI, it will be seen that the sand falling rate of the several emulsions was very low which indicates that the sand is held in suspension so that it is readily carried into the formation fractures to prop the formations open and furthermore the permeability of the formation matrix has been less adversely affected by employing these emulsions than by employing'the fiuids listed in Table IV.

The results from Table VI may be compared with the results in Table IV. For example, with gelled crudes the recovered permeability at a given pressure range is from 1% to 59%, whereas the recovered permeability in Table VI ranges from 67% to 99%.

Similar favorable results are shown for the present invention when the data in Table IV for the emulsified crudes are compared with the data in Table VI employing the emulsions set out herein. In Table IV on the emulsified crudes recovered permeabilities ranging from 9% to 59% were obtained, whereas employing the emulsions of the present invention values from 67% to 99% of recovered permeability were obtained.

From these operations it will be clear that the present invention allows substantially improved results in that fracturing of formations is possible without damage to the formation matrix inasmuch as the formation matrix permeability is less adversely affected. In the present invention where appreciable plugging of the formation matrix is not suffered, the fracturing operation increases the production rate to a marked extent immediately and this production rate does not fall off sharply as has been the experience heretofore. In other words, in the practice of the present invention the ultimate recovery is increased, the formation matrix permeability is less adversely affected, and oil is producible economically from formations from which heretofore it was not practicable. Operations have been conducted which show that the emulsion of the present invention may be removed from the fractured formations without carrying the sand propping agent back into the well bore.

the fractures and then to the well bore.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is:

A method for increasing the permeability of a subsurface earth formation containing valuable hydrocarbons penetrated by a well without affecting adversely the formation matrix permeability which comprises locating an emulsion in contact with said formation, consisting of from about 5% to about by volume of water, from about 5% to about 95% by volume of asphalt-free oil, a fatty acid soap-free emulsifying agent in an amount in the range between about 0.2 and about 20 grams per ml. of the external phase of the emulsion, said emulsion having a solid propping agent added thereto, said water containing calcium chloride in an amount in the range from about 1% by weight to about saturation in said water, said emulsion being characterized by having a low fluid loss and having a falling rate for the solid propping agent in the range from 0 to 5 feet per minute and said emulsion being free of compounds which affect adversely said formation matrix permeability, imposing a suflicient pressure in excess of breakdown pressure of said formation on said emulsion for a sufficient length of time within the range from about 0.1 to about 2 hours to fracture said formation and to cause said propping agent to be carried into and lodge in said fractured formation while maintaining the emulsion, and then producing said Well to remove only said emulsion from said fractured formation and to obtain said hydrocarbons immediately at an increased production rate whereby said formation matrix permeability is not affected adversely and ultimate recovery of said hydrocarbons is increased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,426 Brainerd Apr. 17, 1956 

